Women push to create Florida’s first breast milk depot

A group of women pushing to create Florida’s first breast milk depot hope a proposal gains some mammary momentum.

It’s been a year of overcoming obstacles for Jessica Realin and her son, Jacob, who was born three months early.

“He was two hands big,” said Realin.

Jacob was fed breast milk through a tube, and Realin said it’s what saved his life.

“Breast milk is the only thing that modern science can’t duplicate. They call it 'liquid gold,'” said Realin.

The New Smyrna Beach mom had so much of her milk stockpiled she wanted to give away. She wanted to donate it so other premature or critically-ill babies could get the nourishment they need, but because there's no human milk depot locally, she had to ship it cross country to Denver, where the milk will be processed and frozen before it is sent to hospitals.

Karen Kessler, with Florida Hospital, is working to open the first human milk depot in Orange County. Kessler, along with other mothers, is asking elected officials for help and public donations.

“It’s similar to a blood bank. Would we want to go to Denver to get our blood? No,” said Kessler.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to regulate breast milk depots, but Kessler said the FDA approves human milk depot’s stringent self-regulation.

Some people have concerns about health and safety, but Realin said her son is medical proof.

“It’s probably the lifesaving medicine that you can give your child,” said Realin.

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